The Encounter of a Lifetime

Mary Magdalene, Misery and Mercy

The encounter between Mary Magdalene and Jesus has been called the encounter "between misery and mercy." She initially washed His feet out of contrition, and after His death, out of respect and adoration. She stayed with Our Blessed Mother at the Crucifixion. She didn't run off like the apostles.

Mary Magdalene was a beautiful woman. She was well known throughout the area for her transgressions. She was the epitome of human frailty. She had so much beauty and so much potential, but she used it for bad instead of for good. Couldn't that easily be said of each one of us? Haven't we each fallen short of the mark?

Like any human being, Mary Magdalene wanted to be loved, but kept looking in all the wrong places. Then she looked into the eyes of the Master and found what had been so elusive. Jesus loved her unconditionally. He loved her for who she was and not for her beauty.

Could God ever forgive her for her sins? Could God ever forgive you for your sins?

Sometimes, we seriously doubt that God could forgive us because we have committed serious sin.

Think about her conversion, about how she wept, and about how her tears helped to cleanse Jesus' feet. Reflect on how she then wiped them with her beautiful, long-flowing hair.

How did Jesus respond to her love? Look at who was given the privilege to announce the Resurrection of our Lord. It wasn't Peter, the first Pope. It wasn't even John, the beloved disciple. No, it was Mary Magdalene, the great sinner! That should give us all great hope.

Don't ever doubt the mercy of God. It is unfathomable and unwavering. It is like an ocean that has no bottom. Let the mercy of God be your life vest as you traverse the ocean of life's struggles and the valley of tears.

When in doubt about God's mercy, remember and trust in the words of Jesus to St. Faustina, "The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy" (Diary, 723).

asking for the forgiveness and receiving the mercy of Our Lord, knowing his forgiving love, is a gift. A gift we can share with others. It is our knowing and living the fact of our own journey,our own brokenness, of asking for and receiving forgiveness, that we become vessels of mercy.
How beautiful, to go out into the world sharing this wonderful message of love and mercy, through our work. With the Health Care Professionals for Divine Mercy Apostolate, it is in the hospital, in the emergency department, or at this point, it spills over to everything I do, where ever I go, who ever I meet.
I had the opportunity to view a movie, which brought me back to how I felt, many years ago. The name of the movie is
The Island. A movie about a man, who thought he could not ever be forgiven, and he spent his life in prayer and atonement, his life was a recitation of psalm 51.
The Lord in his great mercy calls with his heart full of healing love. Being a gentleman,the merciful Lord waits for our invitation, even our faint glance is enough, as he knocks at the door of our hearts.
How grateful I am for the forgiving love and generosity of the Merciful Lord. How gentle he is, and how grateful I am that he allows me to bring his message of love and forgiveness, of hope, compassion, and mercy. We are all broken, we all need healing.
Thank you Dr. Thatcher, for your beautiful article.
your sister in Christ,
deb